Public Sector News

IPCC to investigate alleged failings by South Wales Police in a serious domestic abuse case

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is independently investigating how South Wales Police dealt with a report of domestic abuse in August 2011 by a woman in Cardiff who told police that her partner had assaulted her.

It appears that the woman was sent home from Fairwater police station, Cardiff, without action on the part of the police. The man she had complained about then assaulted her two days later. He was then recalled to jail because he had been released from a previous prison sentence on licence.

The woman subsequently went to her Member of Parliament, who complained on her behalf about the force's actions and the matter has now been referred to the IPCC.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said:

"This woman went to the police after her partner had threatened her. The fact that she and her children were allowed to return home where she was then subjected to a serious violent attack raises serious concerns.

"Even more concerning is that the man was released from prison on licence and had a record of violence. We will want to look at what action was taken by the police and the adequacy of any background checks made.

"Our investigation will also look at whether this man was being properly managed, as he was released from prison on licence as a registered sex offender.

"The IPCC has concerns that this matter was referred only after a letter of complaint had been received by an MP, over a year after the original incident. We will also look at what actions or review South Wales Police took after the man assaulted this woman and why it did not refer the matter to the IPCC at a much earlier stage.

"The IPCC has investigated a number of domestic abuse cases in Wales over the last few years, which led to an all-Wales conference on domestic abuse in 2011 to learn the lessons across the police service and other agencies. I will be looking to see whether South Wales Police has put the learning into effect.”